Good. That man’s tainted blood already ran in her nephew’s veins. Jorge didn’t need the stench of his touch, too. Laila didn’t know what Valeria would tell her son someday about his father. She hoped by then her sister had found a good man who would be a positive male role model for the boy so he never succumbed to the evil half of his genes.

  At her side, Trees took her in his arms, his gaze watchful as Matt helped an injured Trevor, who had been shot in the shoulder. Joaquin offered a hand to Ghost, who cursed and clutched his middle like he had some bruised ribs.

  “Is that the extent of our injuries?” Trees asked Hunter.

  “Yeah. One-Mile saved our asses. I called him on his honeymoon in Maui and flew his ass out here, and… Speak of the devil.”

  Walker strode through what had once been the front door, sniper rifle in hand, and headed straight for her. “You all right, Laila?”

  She nodded, realizing what had happened. “You shot Montilla?”

  “When he had the gun to your head, yes.”

  Trees looked taken aback—and horribly pissed off—at the news. “The asshole had a gun to your head?”

  Laila squeezed his hand. “I am fine. Thank you, Señor Walker. I owe you a giant debt.”

  “You don’t. You helped me escape your brother-in-law’s compound last fall. Without you, I would have died and rotted in that place. As far as I’m concerned, the score is even.”

  Trees stuck out his hand. “Thanks. If anything had happened to her…”

  “I get it. Being in love and having something to lose? It’s terrifying.” One-Mile shook his hand. “I’m, um…sorry I accused you of being EM Security’s mole.”

  “I didn’t love it, but it was the logical conclusion. Next time, maybe confront me to my face?”

  “Sure. And I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt first.”

  “That would be great.” Trees smiled.

  “Trees!”

  Laila looked up to find Zy entering the big space and, with Kane’s help, dragging Victor inside. Valeria trailed behind them, holding Jorge close.

  “Hey, buddy.” Trees smiled.

  “You good, man? You look like shit.”

  “Aww, you’re just being nice.”

  “What are friends for?” Zy teased as he stopped with Victor in the middle of the room.

  Her former rapist and tormentor still had venom in his eyes, but he also had the good sense to look afraid. She didn’t feel an ounce of pity for him. Perhaps someone better would be looking into their heart to find forgiveness. Laila couldn’t lie. She was just looking forward to his death.

  “This is your fault, puta,” he snarled.

  “Shut the fuck up.” Trees barreled toward him.

  Laila held him back, loving that he wanted to protect her. But confronting Victor was something she needed to do herself. “No, it is yours. You chose to violate me as a child, over and over, using me for your sick pleasure. But you made me stronger. You made me a fighter. And because of that, you made me the instrument of your demise.”

  “Are you going to shoot me yourself? Is that your little revenge?” He sneered. “I doubt you have the stomach.”

  Laila realized she could do it now. She had a gun. No one would stop her. Federico might be put out that he didn’t get to torture Victor before ending him, but ultimately the new drug lord wanted this piece of trash dead.

  Still, killing Victor quickly would be too easy and merciful for him. And she refused to waste more time and attention on this scum. Besides, she wasn’t violent. Trees had shown her a path to happiness. Why taint her soul with vengeance when she could take his hand and embrace her future?

  “You are right. So I will simply say good-bye—my way.” She stepped closer.

  “Laila…” Trees warned.

  “Hermana!” Valeria gasped.

  She sent them both soft, reassuring glances. Then she released Trees’s comforting grip and faced Victor. Her smile turned cutting. And she spit in his face.

  He blanched, his eyes shooting fire as he lunged for her. Zy and Kane held him back, each with an unyielding grip on one of his arms.

  “Pipe down, motherfucker,” Zy growled, then turned to her. “Got more for him?”

  “He deserves it. Go on,” Trees encouraged, pointing a gun in his face. “And if he tries anything…”

  Of course her beloved would shoot him. Trees was protective, and he hated this bastard. But it was more. He wanted her to close this chapter of her life and not regret walking away without getting whatever justice she could.

  “Just one thing.” Because she knew that whatever Federico had planned for Victor would be far more horrific and painful than anything she could dream up.

  Laila braced herself on Victor’s arms. He trembled with rage. She ignored him completely—until she used all her might to drive her knee into his balls.

  He groaned and doubled over, falling to his knees.

  Laila stood over him. “You are a pedophile and a rapist and a piece of shit. You deserve everything coming to you.”

  Behind him, she caught sight of Federico’s men returning. A new arrival in a suit hovered outside, looking very official and carrying a briefcase. The rest rushed in, heading straight for Victor with cuffs, old-school tools, and evil smiles.

  “Mr. Ramos, what a pleasure to see you already on your knees.” Federico grabbed Victor by the hair and yanked his head back cruelly. “It is the perfect position for you.”

  Then he motioned to two of his men, who took Zy’s and Kane’s places and dragged a struggling Victor across the room. They cuffed one arm to a decorative bracket under the counter. The other they restrained to the nearby door handle. When they were done, one thug whipped out a pair of pliers.

  The man’s awful grin sent shudders down Laila’s spine—and left her no doubt that Victor wouldn’t leave here alive. “Give me your tongue.”

  Federico motioned her and Valeria outside. They followed, as did Trees, watching as Chavez took the briefcase from the suit’s hands and handed it to Laila. “The money for you ladies.” He sent her an amused glance. “It is good to be the hero, yes?”

  The words echoed exactly those she had exchanged with Montilla’s informant. “It was you I texted with.”

  He nodded. “It is also good to keep your own best interests in mind.”

  Those words rolled around in Laila’s head until she realized what he meant. “You told me where to find Kimber because you wanted Montilla weakened for your own purposes.”

  “She did not belong there, and your lover nearly did the job for me when he shot the old man. But Montilla came out of his coma last week, forcing me to regroup. You and your sister’s perfectly timed message gave me exactly what I needed to wrest control for good. It is fortunate, indeed, that both of you want nothing to do with the organization.”

  Or he would have killed them without a second thought. She suppressed a shiver. “Nothing at all.”

  “Ever,” Valeria chimed in, clutching Jorge tight. “Neither will my son.”

  “Excellent. This concludes our business, then. Mr. Edgington.” He nodded at Hunter, who exited the hospital and headed straight for them, Logan and Joaquin in tow. “You and your men have been admirable adversaries. I hope this is where we part ways?”

  Hunter scowled. “I fucking hate what you do for a living, but it’s not my job or my crusade to put you down, especially since, if I did, another you would only spring up tomorrow.”

  “It is wise to know the battles you cannot win. I wish you safe travels,” he murmured, as if he was a gracious host, not a criminal boss.

  Before he could return inside, Laila grabbed Chavez’s arm. “I want to know how Ramos will die.”

  The man smiled. “Bloodthirsty, huh? If I did not have a wife I loved with all my heart, you would be a very interesting woman to tame.”

  Trees pulled her back, against his big, protective body. “She’s going to be my wife.”

  “And you will ensure she stays out of my business?”

  “Damn straight.”

  “Good man.” Federico turned his attention back to her. “My men will end Victor Ramos and make it as torturous as possible. I am not sure quite how. You are welcome to stay and watch.”

  In a way, his offer was tempting. A part of her wanted to see Victor’s awful end. But her heart had other ideas. That part of her didn’t want to spend another moment in the past or fixated on violence. She’d rather look forward, embrace happiness, and start her future. Now that her family was safe and their tomorrows were secure, it was time.

  “No. I have a life to live.” With the man she loved.

  “A wise choice. I wish you all health and happiness. Goodbye.” Chavez nodded their way one last time, then sauntered back into the abandoned hospital just as Victor’s screams began to tear through the night.

  Laila ignored them and kissed her sister’s cheek, then laid a soft kiss on her nephew’s forehead before handing her the briefcase. “For you.”

  Valeria shook her head, then settled the money back in Laila’s grip. “Keep it. I took much more from Emilo before I left, and you deserve every penny.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive. Perhaps you and Trees could use it to start your married life?”

  Laila frowned. “Are you going somewhere?”

  “Back to St. Louis, I think. It felt like home to me. I enjoyed the seasons. I liked my neighborhood. I made friends. It is a place to start.”

  Laila frowned. After fighting so hard for her family, they wouldn’t be staying together after all? “But…”

  “You thought I would remain in Louisiana? Follow wherever you went?” Valeria shook her head. “You do not need me anymore. And I must stand on my own two feet. I will raise my son and, hopefully, find a good man someday. In the meantime, I think I will go to beauty school. That sounds…nice.”

  Laila took her sister’s hand. “I will miss you and Jorge, but I want you to be happy.”

  “For the first time ever, I will. You have taught me so much about being brave.” Valeria squeezed her fingers. “I can move forward now. I love you.”

  Then she turned away and murmured something to Kane, who escorted her to the van, opened the door, and sealed her inside.

  Trees led her away from the others, under the moonlight and away from the sounds of Victor’s pain. Then he took her face in his hands. “You okay, little one?”

  She turned to him, visually tracing every cut, scrape, bruise, and scab. “Are you? We should get you to a doctor.”

  “When we get stateside. But I’m fine. No, I’m great. I have you, so I have everything.” He settled a kiss on her forehead. “You scared me in there.”

  “I was terrified of losing you.”

  He shook his head. “You can’t lose me, honey. From the first moment I saw you, I was yours. Nothing’s changed.”

  Her face softened as her heart melted. “When I met you, I did not believe there was such a thing as a good man. But God blessed me with the best when He sent you to rescue me. I am sorry for all I’ve put you through. But I swear I am yours forever. I want to marry you, Forest Scott.”

  Thrill crossed his face, followed by a frown of regret. “I wanted to propose to you the right way. I wanted to put you in a pretty dress, take you to dinner, then get down on one knee with a sparkling ring and find the perfect words.”

  She set the briefcase at her feet and clutched his arms. “I do not need any of those things. I only need you. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, honey. Let me take you home now so we can start our forever.”

  Chapter Eleven

  June

  Four months later

  The day dawned perfect. Trees opened his eyes, vowing this was the last time he’d ever wake up in his bed alone.

  Today, Laila would finally become his wife.

  She’d spent last night at a cozy bed-and-breakfast doing “girl things” with Valeria, Kimber, and Tessa—who had recently returned from her honeymoon—along with Brea Walker and the bosses’ wives, Kata, Tara, and Bailey. Laila had called around eleven last night, seeming very carefree and something he thought he would never hear his bride-to-be sound like—giggly.

  Apparently, all the wives had started dishing their best marital advice, some of which had been hysterical. Then Alyssa Traverson had stopped in with a decadent dessert from her restaurant, Bonheur. Delaney Murphy tagged along because she’d needed a break from the testosterone overload at her house, where she and her husband were raising their boys—ages four, two, and nine months. Then she’d announced that the baby she was expecting was another boy. Amid the hearty congratulations and good-natured teasing, Delaney had laughed and swore she felt blessed.

  If Trees had his way, he and Laila would have a big family. He’d already made plans to expand the house—and none too soon. They hadn’t told anyone except Valeria, Zy, and Tessa, but Laila was eleven weeks pregnant. Finally, the morning sickness was nearly over. Second trimester hormones had arrived early, and Laila was hungry for him all. The. Time.

  Trees was the happiest bastard on the planet.

  After a quick roll through his morning routine, he woke Zy on the futon in his home office. Barney loped into the house after his morning kibble and licked Kane awake on the sofa, who came up sputtering.

  Holding in his laughter was impossible.

  “Bastard,” Kane grumbled, but he was smiling as he petted the big dog.

  Then Trees stood at the opening of his guest room and stared at the two people whose presence here surprised him most—his two brothers, Nash and Wade.

  Trees hadn’t seen them in over a dozen years. When he’d left home, Nash had been a gawky fourteen, just beginning to grow hair in interesting places and sprout up. Wade had been a rambunctious twelve, still more interested in any sport with a ball than contact with a girl. Now they were grown-ass men—and about his height. It was a novel experience to walk into the room and not be the tallest dude there.

  But while last night’s bachelor party of music, whiskey, poker, and horribly inappropriate jokes had been great, it was the deepening relationships—the roots—that made Trees happiest of all. He had family now. Real family, defined not only by blood but by loyalty, respect, and honor. That, along with Laila’s love, had mended the hole he’d carried in his heart since leaving home at eighteen. Not only were he and Zy closer than ever, but his circle was expanding. Kane was rapidly becoming both a friend he enjoyed and a peer he relied on. And having the contact with his biological brothers he firmly believed would go beyond this weekend was the cherry on top. And that wasn’t all…

  “Up and at ’em, boys,” he called to his brothers.

  They both jackknifed out of bed in their boxers, looking sleep-deprived and hung over.

  “Holy fuck.” Nash gave a bleary-eyed glance at the first stirrings of sunrise out the window. “What time is it?”

  “Oh-dark-thirty.” Wade winced. “My goddamn head…”

  Trees just grinned. “What time did you boys finally turn in?”

  They looked at each other, then Nash shook his head. “No comment. But we’ll try to keep the bitching to a minimum since it’s your big day.”

  “Much appreciated.” Trees winked. “So who spent the night with the stripper?”

  Everyone had pitched in to send him female entertainment. Trees hadn’t been interested in the blonde with fake assets. His very single brothers, on the other hand…

  They exchanged another glance. “No comment.”

  He held in a laugh. If they’d tag-teamed her, he didn’t want to know. “You’re picking up the folks at noon?”

  “We’ll be at the church no later than twelve thirty,” Nash promised. “Kellyanne and Wren flew in last night, too, so we’ll bring them along.”

  Trees was really looking forward to seeing two of his sisters. In fact, his whole family had been thrilled when he’d reached out with the news of his engagement. And so welcoming. Though his other three sisters—Audrey, Lydia, and Daisy—were unable to attend the wedding due to jobs or family obligations, they had sent their well wishes and love.

  When his parents had arrived, their reunion had thankfully been more sweet than bitter. They were in a different phase of life now and had apologized for their shortcomings decades ago. Their words and assurances—along with Laila’s devotion—had gone a long way to assuring him that he was wanted and loved. Forgiving his parents had been easy. Becoming a family again had been even easier. And his parents absolutely adored Laila.

  His whole life was coming together. Now the day just had to hurry up so the most incredible, brave, clever, beautiful woman he knew would finally be his wife.

  A text alerted him that he had company at the outer perimeter of his security. He pressed a few buttons to let Matt in, then met him at the door.

  “Hey.” Trees stuck out his hand. “Welcome back.”

  Matt shook it, pulled him in for a bro hug, then handed him a box of donuts. “Whew. I wasn’t sure I’d make it back to town in one piece.”

  “Since when is a tech conference dangerous? Something go down in New Orleans?”

  “Not like you’re thinking, but every time the client turned his back, his just-turned-forty-and-so-fucking-horny wife jumped me. Dodging her wasn’t fun.”

  Trees laughed. “Used your evasive maneuvers, huh?”

  “I had to. Jesus, the number of times she grabbed my junk in the car…” He sighed. “I need to get laid. I’ve batted a huge zero in this town since I rolled in.”

  Mostly because he hadn’t had time to troll the bars, Trees suspected. Matt was a good-looking SOB. The quiet cowboy thing would get a lot of female attention—as soon as he wasn’t working all the damn time. “Well, weddings are a target-rich environment, my friend. You never know.” Then he realized exactly who Matt needed to meet. “Remind me to introduce you to Madison.”

  “The girl Tessa offered to introduce me to after she turned me down?” Matt didn’t look thrilled.

  “Madison is cute and really sweet.”

  “No, thanks. I’m not up for a pity date, man.”